Col. Sam Smith surprise

dbellilo · **Reply #1 on:** May 25, 2011, 09:51:30 PM

Nice treat, lucky you! When did you find it?

Rob'in'To · **Reply #2 on:** May 26, 2011, 07:43:58 AM

Ummm, shore birds are still new to me. What is it? :?

dbellilo · **Reply #3 on:** May 26, 2011, 07:50:01 AM

To my eye, it's a ruddy turnstone. If it's not, I'll eat my own face!

thouc · **Reply #4 on:** May 26, 2011, 08:42:03 AM

Your face is safe!

aviator · **Reply #5 on:** May 26, 2011, 08:43:25 AM

South shore May 24 about 3 pm. Thought it was a Killdeer first at a distance. They and the Spotted Sandpipers are often in the area.

dbellilo · **Reply #6 on:** May 26, 2011, 10:10:30 AM

I think that's nifty and delightful! I too was at Col Sam on the 24th and was delighted to see 3 or 4 spotted sandpipers. I've only seen a ruddy turnstone once before but have heard that they can pop in once in a while. Even the occasional red knot, apparently. I saw many hundreds of whimbrel too, but they didn't land, of course...

Bluffs Birder · **Reply #7 on:** May 26, 2011, 04:12:32 PM

Great find. I was at the Whimbrel Watch all day and didn't see this little beauty. We did however have a Sanderling fly by us. As we watched the Sanderling fly, a lone Whimbrel flew up off the shore. None of us saw it there. As is with most shorebirds, they blend in pretty darn good to their surrondings.

One flock of passing Whimbrel was roughly 200 birds in size, very cool to see!

Our best surprise was a Long-tailed Jaeger flying by with a flock of gulls.

Walter

aviator · **Reply #8 on:** May 26, 2011, 05:34:59 PM

Was it this on

e? ;-)

dbellilo · **Reply #9 on:** May 26, 2011, 06:36:22 PM

The luck never stops! Well done! I figured some of them must land but not while I was there...

gary yankech · **Reply #10 on:** May 26, 2011, 07:39:38 PM

Excellent...two birds I have yet to see! lucky you.

Gary Yankech

aviator · **Reply #11 on:** May 26, 2011, 09:10:58 PM

I must confess that my Whimbrel was from a past year. Too much free time on my hands I'm afraid!

dbellilo · **Reply #12 on:** May 26, 2011, 09:28:24 PM

That makes you a sneaky ol' so-and-so...

mr.sharp-photo · **Reply #13 on:** May 27, 2011, 12:24:50 AM

Quote from: "aviator"

South shore May 24 about 3 pm. Thought it was a Killdeer first at a distance. They and the Spotted Sandpipers are often in the area.

i think i may have flushed this guy. thought it was a big killdeer.
hrm.